Yes, most basic groceries in Florida are tax-free, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread, but prepared foods, hot foods, restaurant meals, soft drinks, candy, and sandwiches intended for immediate consumption are subject to sales tax**. The key distinction is between food for home consumption (tax-exempt) and food prepared or sold for immediate eating (taxable).
Exemptions to Florida sales tax
Groceries: Most food items intended for home consumption are exempt from sales tax. This includes fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, and canned goods. Prepared hot foods and soft drinks are subject to sales tax.
Across the U.S., the sales tax on groceries varies. Some states fully exempt grocery items, while others charge full or reduced rates. As of April 2026, 13 states still impose some form of statewide sales tax on grocery items.
No. Florida exempts most food products sold for home consumption. This includes produce, meat, dairy, eggs, bread, canned goods, and frozen foods. However, candy, soft drinks, and prepared hot foods are taxable even at grocery stores.
Sales tax is added to the price of taxable goods or services and collected from the purchaser at the time of sale. Florida's general state sales tax rate is 6% with the following exceptions: Retail sales of new mobile homes – 3%
Most restaurants have to charge a 6% Florida state sales tax and any additional country taxes. However, bakeries are exempt from paying sales tax if they don't have eating facilities.
Rule 12A-1.011(4)(f), F.A.C., states that: Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and similar frozen dairy or nondairy products in cones, small cups, or pints, and popsicles, frozen fruit bars, or other novelty items, whether sold separately or in multiple units, are subject to tax.
The short answer is no for most staple grocery items, but yes for certain categories like prepared foods, soft drinks, and candy. The grocery tax in Florida exempts basic necessities, such as bread, milk, fresh fruits, and vegetables, from the state's 6% sales tax.
Soft drinks in Florida are generally taxable, as are any beverage containing fruit or vegetable juice labeled with the word(s) “ade,” “beverage,” “cocktail,” “drink,” or “fruit or vegetable flavor, flavored, or flavorings.” Malted and ice cream drinks are also taxable.
How to Make Tax Exempt Purchases. Provide a copy of the Florida Consumer's Certificate of Exemption to the selling dealer to make tax exempt purchases or leases in Florida. Payment for the purchase must be made with the governmental entity's funds.
Florida does not have an individual income tax. Florida has a 5.5 percent corporate income tax rate. Florida also has a 6.00 percent state sales tax rate and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 7.02 percent. Florida has a 0.74 percent effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing value.
Florida does not have a state individual income tax, estate tax, or inheritance tax, making it a popular choice for retirees and businesses, but it relies heavily on other taxes like a 6% statewide sales tax (with local add-ons) and a corporate income tax to fund public services.
Senior Exemption
At least one homeowner must be 65 years old as of January 1. Total household adjusted gross income for everyone who lives on the property cannot exceed $38,686 in the previous year, 2025, based on the figure set by the Florida Department of Revenue.
Even with no income tax, they can still generate needed revenue. Here's how they do it: Sales taxes: A large portion of the money needed for public services is collected through sales taxes in states like Texas, Florida, and Washington. Therefore, each purchase contributes a small part to the state's coffers.
(2) Tax-exempt food products. (a) Food products for human consumption, whether processed, cooked, raw, canned, or in any other form that is generally regarded as food, are exempt.
Many states don't tax basic groceries, with some (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) having no state sales tax at all, while others exempt food from their general sales tax, like Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, according to Stripe,, though local taxes or taxes on prepared/soda/candy often apply. The key is the distinction between groceries for home consumption (often exempt) and prepared foods or snacks (usually taxed).
Your marginal tax rate or tax bracket refers only to your highest tax rate—the last tax rate your income is subject to. For example, in 2025, a single filer with taxable income of $100,000 will pay $16,914 in tax, or an average tax rate of 16.9%. But your marginal tax rate or tax bracket is 22%.